Whatever you think of President Trump, he has quickly approved several key pipelines, including the Keystone XL and Dakota Access systems. Such pipelines move huge amounts of energy resources, while creating many jobs and project revenues.

Pipelines are, by far, the safest way to transport liquid fuels and natural gas products.

Right now, Pennsylvania and other states, are considering important new pipeline projects, including the reversal of some pipeline flows to improve the efficiency of such pipeline products.

A case in point: The existing Laurel Pipeline moves gasoline, diesel, and refined products from the Philadelphia area west to Pittsburgh.

Just one issue: free market forces, responding to supply and demand shifts, tend to push more products in the eastern direction.

What's driving this market change? As North American oil production continues to rise, Midwestern refiners are responding by increasing the output of gasoline, diesel, and other refined products.

Their products - which are sourced largely from domestic crude oil - cost less to refine, resulting in lower gasoline prices at the pump.

According to the data, gasoline sourced from Midwest refiners has dropped by 7 cents per gallon relative to East Coast supplied gasoline over the past decade. And given the clear market fundamentals, this is a trend that will likely continue.

A map of the proposal to partially reverse Laurel Pipe Line's flow between Pittsburgh and the Eldorado terminal near Altoona. (Provided by Buckeye Partners)

Consider the Laurel Pipeline's partial reversal that's awaiting a public utility regulatory decision in Pennsylvania. Buckeye Partners - the company behind the existing refined products pipeline - sees the market signals and is responding, seeking to shift the line's flow to the east in the western part of the state.

This would open opportunities for increased supplies of lower-priced Midwest refined products to reach more Pennsylvania consumers who currently have limited fuel sourcing options.

By allowing the reversal of flow on the Pittsburgh-to-Altoona portion of the Laurel Pipeline, Pennsylvania has the opportunity to access more lower-cost Midwest gasoline. With that increased supply, and steady demand, simple economics tell us that prices should fall.

However, as the free market constantly evolves and changes, we must answer the question: Do we turn to the heavy hand of government to slow progress or move forward with the efficiencies of a dynamic economy?

When we ignore a changing market and enable government to pick winners and losers, history shows we end up with more losers.

Still, through political influence and regulatory delays, some try to tip the scales in favor of one interest over another. But when we embrace free market changes, consumers win.

Unfortunately, some individuals refuse to recognize these changing markets and are working to block this commonsense proposal. Doing so threatens to distort markets and ultimately hurt Pennsylvanians at the pump. But their argument - that this proposed partial reversal cuts Pennsylvania supply - doesn't hold water.

In fact, the portion of the pipeline to be reversed is already underutilized by Philadelphia-area refiners, as fuel shipments on Laurel to the Pittsburgh market have fallen dramatically, and continue to trend downward.

What some East Coast refiners attempting to block market change aren't saying is that they will continue to have market access throughout Pennsylvania and to high-demand New York and New England markets.

It should also be noted that East Coast refiners are increasingly sending their products overseas, as they are being responsive to market demands.

As a top energy producing state, Pennsylvania is already experiencing the benefits of America's historical energy revolution.

Here again the market is signaling the need to respond to supply and demand shifts that will benefit consumers while also enhancing domestic energy security.

Put simply, when markets are empowered to work freely and efficiently, consumers win.

J. Winston Porter, a national energy and environmental consultant in Savannah, Ga., previously served as Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator in Washington, D.C. He writes from Savannah, Ga.